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Wednesday, August 17, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Local artists shine at annual art show
By Jodi Schneider McNamee
Correspondent
It was a perfect summer
evening for the juried com-
munity art show and silent
auction on Friday, August 12.
The show kicked off the 21st
annual Country Fair held at
The Episcopal Church of the
Transfiguration on Saturday
(see story, page 1).
Art enthusiasts browsed
through a stimulating display
of fine art, interacting with
the artists. The wine-tasting
and hors d’oeuvres created
an elegant atmosphere where
people enjoyed an evening
with friends while making
new acquaintances.
From bright pastels to
hand-carved gourds, the
eclectic assortment of original
high-quality oils, watercolors,
acrylics, sculptures, photogra-
phy and outdoor art captured
viewers’ attention.
This year the selected
juror was local photographer
Curtiss Abbott.
Abbott’s interest in photog-
raphy began with film and the
darkroom and grew into the
digital age. His images show
his fine eye for composition,
lighting and the beauty in the
subjects that folks see.
“As a juror, I looked for
something that I considered
striking from an artist’s point
of view, something that is
appealing and catches the eye
and pulls you in for a closer
look,” Abbott said. “I looked
at the artistic feel of the piece.
So for me it was also an emo-
tional response. You’re also
looking at the basic rules
of composition and solid
C
technical skill.”
Gayle Rodrigues, the
silent-auction chairperson,
is retiring after 11 years and
handing over the reins to
Jennifer Rambo.
“We needed a new chair-
person for the silent auction
since my husband, Reverend
Ted Rodriguez — Father
Ted — and I are retiring in
April. The church is already
in the process of hiring a new
pastor.”
Rambo and Rodrigues co-
piloted the silent auction this
year.
“I think it’s wonderful
that all of the proceeds go to
a great cause, back into the
community!” Rambo said. “I
have been a member of the
church for 30 years, ever since
I was baptized here at age 4.”
“This year we have 127
items, and they are wonder-
ful things donated by our art-
ists and gift certificates from
businesses. Plus, many of the
church members have made
things for the auction like
fused glass, quilts, and paint-
ings,” Rodrigues added.
Last year Randall Tillery
picked up Best of Show for his
oil painting “Rebirth” and this
time around he was selected as
the featured artist.
“It is an honor and it was
unexpected, and I came up
with some new pieces just
for the art show,” Tillery told
The Nugget. “I brought seven
paintings with me and three are
of the local scenery: ‘Along
the Metolius,’ ‘Nature’s Blast
of Color’ and ‘Big Skies Over
Broken Top.’”
Tillery’s painting “High
Country Lake,” a piece he has
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Best of Show winner chuck chamberlain discusses his work.
never shown before, sold as
soon as the art show opened.
Volunteer Jan Shaver, coor-
dinator/chairman for the juried
art show, was busy mingling
among the huge crowd of art-
ists and visitors.
“We have 190 pieces and
48 artists, and this year we
are seeing really nice work,”
Shaver said.
Local scratchboard art-
ist Jennifer Hartwig won best
mixed media for her cougar
titled “mine.”
“This piece is my very first
scratchboard cat. A friend of
mine had a photo of a cougar
for years that her grandpa had
photographed, and she gave
me the photo and asked me
to work the photo into my
scratchboard art,” she said.
Gary Cooley, owner of
Cooley Art Gallery in Sisters,
won Best Oil & Acrylic for his
6-by-8 painting, “Three Sisters
from Tumalo Reservoir” — a
stunning sunset from Tumalo
Reservoir looking back at the
Three Sisters Mountains.
Bend artist Chuck
Chamberlain has been painting
for nearly 50 years and won
Best of Show for his acrylic
painting “Not a Single Leaf.”
“My work has been in the
show every year for many
years and has never won any-
thing, so this is a pleasant
surprise,” Chamberlain said.
“I incorporate a lot of detail
in all my paintings, but some-
times you need to look up
close to find it.”
Chamberlain’s style of
painting was influenced by
his New England background,
and his work demonstrates an
attention to detail and drama.
“I used to live in rural cen-
tral New Hampshire and trav-
eled the back roads, fished,
hunted and photographed
landscapes, barns and covered
bridges.”
Proceeds from the fair
and art show are dispersed
throughout the community of
Sisters.